Seeds - 5 g

Plains Coreopsis, also known as Golden Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria), is a charming annual wildflower in the daisy family that fills the garden with masses of small, brilliant daisy-like flowers. Its blooms are a favourite for sunny ornamental beds, borders, and informal wildflower patches, carrying a warm, golden glow often deepened by rich mahogany centres. Slender and airy, the plant reaches roughly 60-120 cm tall and 30-45 cm wide, swaying gracefully and self-seeding readily so the colour returns year after year. It is an easy, undemanding choice for cut-flower arrangements and naturalistic planting.

Planting

Choose a spot in full sun with 6 or more hours of direct light; in shade it barely flowers. Sow very shallowly, only about 1.5-3 mm deep, pressing the seeds onto the surface since they need light to germinate. Space sowing 15-20 cm apart, then thin seedlings to a final 30-40 cm. Germination takes around 10-20 days at a soil temperature of 18-29 C.

Fertilizing

This wildflower thrives in poor, light soils and needs little to no feeding. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer, which drives leafy, spindly growth and fewer flowers. If you feed at all, apply only a light balanced (10-10-10) feed in spring.

Care

Use light, well-drained soil and water sparingly; it dislikes wet feet and is short-lived where drainage is poor. Once established it is strongly drought- and heat-tolerant. Deadhead or shear spent blooms to encourage more flushes. Watch for aphids, and keep foliage dry with good airflow to limit powdery mildew and leaf spots.